Okay, I suppose this is a classic reefing problem, but I can’t seem to solve it.
Micro algae and dinos and cyano are all more efficient at capturing nutrients than coral or macroalgae. If I feed normally my nutrients bottom out and I get dinos. Of course the nutrients are NOT 0, they just don’t read on the test kit because the dinos, micro algae are absorbing them. If it try to raise nutrients by feeding fish or coral, I get… more dinos plus GHA plus cyano plus the briopsis gets out of control.
How do I raise nutrients without an explosion of disgustingness? Should I simply remove the chaeto that is probably helping the tank to bottom out? Do I need to switch my base rock for live rock? Should I buy a big UV and filter the water? Should I run GFO to capture the PO4 before the dinos can get it? Should I dose vodka to encourage competition, or Vibrant or Dr Tims, or just pretend that I don’t have an issue?
I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. There are too many pitfalls, I have analysis paralysis. Any advice from someone who has lived it?
Tank: 50 gal with 15 gal sump
Chaeto in refugium on opposing cycle
pH: 8.2
Alk: 7.8 and rising (trying to get back to 8.5)
Ca: 485
Mag: 1400+
NO3: 0.0
PO4: 0.0
Micro algae and dinos and cyano are all more efficient at capturing nutrients than coral or macroalgae. If I feed normally my nutrients bottom out and I get dinos. Of course the nutrients are NOT 0, they just don’t read on the test kit because the dinos, micro algae are absorbing them. If it try to raise nutrients by feeding fish or coral, I get… more dinos plus GHA plus cyano plus the briopsis gets out of control.
How do I raise nutrients without an explosion of disgustingness? Should I simply remove the chaeto that is probably helping the tank to bottom out? Do I need to switch my base rock for live rock? Should I buy a big UV and filter the water? Should I run GFO to capture the PO4 before the dinos can get it? Should I dose vodka to encourage competition, or Vibrant or Dr Tims, or just pretend that I don’t have an issue?
I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. There are too many pitfalls, I have analysis paralysis. Any advice from someone who has lived it?
Tank: 50 gal with 15 gal sump
Chaeto in refugium on opposing cycle
pH: 8.2
Alk: 7.8 and rising (trying to get back to 8.5)
Ca: 485
Mag: 1400+
NO3: 0.0
PO4: 0.0